WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration gave approval Monday for the Syrian opposition to open a formal diplomatic mission in the United States and said it would increase non-lethal assistance to the opposition by $27 million.

The steps announced by the State Department give the Syrian Opposition Council’s offices in Washington and New York formal diplomatic status and boost total U.S. assistance to the opposition to $287 million since the conflict began three years ago. The moves come at a critical time in the conflict as Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government has made recent battlefield gains and is planning presidential elections in June.